Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (7.27.22)
Opening statement:
“Good to see everybody. Welcome back. Really excited to be back here. Excited to have the guys back in town. Yesterday, it was a little bit like the first day of school. Having the upperclassmen coming back to school yesterday and greeting the rookies and the quarterbacks that have been here for a few days I thought was a fun process to get through. A lot of meetings yesterday. Today, we will shift gears and we will get into a walkthrough mode. Really excited to be back. I think the guys you can see are ready to work. Very, very pleased with where they are from a conditioning and body standpoint. I think that was evident in their bodyweights, their lean muscle mass and how they came back here. These guys put in a ton of work, and I am very appreciative. Then I think it is obvious that they spent time with their playbooks. We just had a walkthrough this morning, and I was very impressed with how on top of it the guys were. They are locked in, which I appreciate. We have miles to go with a lot of work that we have to do, but that work will really come on the heels of a very good spring where the guys put in some good reps. I am appreciative of that, as well. On (QB) Deshaun (Watson), I know you guys will ask the question – and I appreciate that – I do not have much to add; I do not have a ton of information for you. We have a plan, and as information becomes available, we can adjust that plan, but short of that, I do not have too much that I can provide.”
On how the Browns currently plan to split reps between Watson and Browns QBs:
“Guys will rotate in there like we always do. If you saw in the spring, we rotated Deshaun and (QB) Jacoby (Brissett), as well, so that really does not change. The truth is we have to get all of those guys ready to play. It does not mean that you divide the reps exactly evenly among four different guys, but we have to get all of them ready, and we have a plan to use all of them at different times.”
On if Watson and Brissett will get an equal amount of first-team reps to open training camp:
“I would not get into the exact percentage, but they are both going to get a ton of reps. Really, they both got a ton of reps in the spring. I think that was the benefit of that offseason program was getting Deshaun a ton of reps and getting Jacoby a ton of reps. That does not change.”
On if a potential Watson suspension will impact how the Browns split reps between Watson and Brissett:
“We have a plan and we will see what information will comes available, but certainly, more information may adjust what we are doing.”
On there is a sense of disappointment that the team has not received word yet regarding Watson’s potential discipline:
“No, I just think that is the nature of this game, and I think player availability, we have to deal with that in-game. You get into the fourth quarter or the third quarter of a game, and that is our job to adjust. It is the player’s job to be ready as the next man up mentality, as you have all heard a thousand times, and it is our job as coaches to prepare everybody to play.”
On if it is tough for the Browns to make plans regarding QBs without knowing about Watson’s availability:
“No, again, you have smart coaches up there so they are doing a nice job.
On the Browns’ plan at QB is and if there is anxiousness while waiting to learn about potential Watson suspension, given some media members are anxious:
“If you are anxious, I can’t help you (laughter). I think we just deal with it. That is our mentality. We are going to deal with July 27, and then we get to tomorrow, we will deal with tomorrow. That is kind of how we operate.
On acquiring QB Josh Rosen in July when Rosen was available as early as March:
“I do not know the answer to that other than to say that we felt like we should add a fourth quarterback, brought Josh in for a workout and obviously signed him, but I would not read too much into the timing of it.”
On if Brissett will be the starting QB if Watson is suspended:
“Jacoby is our backup quarterback. If Deshaun is unavailable, Jacoby is the starter.”
On a status update for players who were placed on PUP, including CB Denzel Ward:
“I do not know the list of everybody who is on there, but Denzel is working through it. I am confident in the next couple of weeks he will be out there. He has come along just fine.”
On LB Anthony Walker Jr.’s injury who was placed on NFI:
“It is something done over the break, but again, another one that I am not too concerned about.”
On if the Browns expect T Jack Conklin to practice at some point during training camp:
“I do at some point. He has done a really nice job. I want to highlight Jack. He lived here all spring and all summer. I think he may have had a cot set up somewhere in the building (laughter). He has been working so hard. I notice it. His teammates notice it. He is progressing. I do not have the exact date when he is back out at in practice. We will make sure that we work with the medical staff on that one, but he has worked really, really hard.”
On DT Sheldon Day being placed on NFI and if all four Browns players on PUP or NFI yesterday are expected to be available by Week 1:
“Yes.”
On when WR David Bell sustained the foot injury, given Bell was placed on PUP last week:
“Late in the offseason program, I do not know the exact date, it may have been in that minicamp, had something nagging and took a look at it, but we will be okay.”
On if he has addressed the team about Watson’s potential suspension and being prepared for anything that could occur:
“As you know, I am not going to get into the specifics of what we talk about, but with our team – all 32 teams do this – there are things that come your way that you have to be able to deal with day to day, week to week and month to month. Those are not unusual for an NFL team to deal with things like that. Really, I go back to what I said earlier: we are going to deal with what is in front of us that day.”
On the situation being unprecedented compared to what the other 31 NFL teams are dealing with as they start the season:
“It may be unprecedented compared to the rest of the league. For us, we just think about what is in front of us for that day. Like I told you, we had a good walkthrough this morning. My mindset goes to what we are going to do this afternoon. Absent new information, there is not much more that we can change in how we operate.”
On the team’s confidence that Watson would be able to shake off any potential rust in the event a significant suspension is imposed:
“I do not want to speculate too much, but he is professional. He works very, very hard. I have been very impressed with Deshaun going back to the first day he walked in here in April the amount of work he has put in and the work he has put in since we broke from minicamp. He is very diligent about those things.”
On if a longer layoff between the final preseason game and first regular season game can help prepare a backup QB to start:
“With the three preseason games, now you do have a unique two-week [period] prior to when you get started in your regular season preparation. We have thought that out and have a plan for that, but we will await information to see if we adjust to that. Certainly, whether you are talking about getting Jacoby ready or getting the backup right tackle ready, having those extra days is important.”
On if there is any sense that the team may experience somewhat of a letdown if Watson is suspended at the beginning of the season, given teammates sound excited to play with Watson:
“I do not think so. Like you said, these guys enjoy being around each other. I really think they have done a nice job of coming together as a team through that offseason. It is the oldest thing in football, it is the next man up mentality regardless of who is out and why they are out. That is just how we operate. We are trying to get a football team ready to play, and that includes our starters, our backups, guys that become backups throughout the course this season, rookies and veterans. That is kind of how we operate.”
On how much Watson not playing in the 2021 season affects the number of practice reps distributed at QB:
“I think we take all of it into account. Certainly, that is something that missing 2021 and missing those reps are something that we take into account, but I really go back to the spring. I think we had a really solid spring of work that I think Deshaun in particular gained a lot of ground.”
On expectations for the Browns defense this season, given comments from DE Myles Garrett and CB Greg Newsome II about their potential earlier in the day:
“I think any of those expectations are certainly internal. I think those guys push themselves, and I think they want to be great together. I think that is the important part of this. There is a lot of work that has to be done before we get there. I do appreciate our defense. I appreciate that we have some guys that have now been in the system for a few years. I think they are excited to get to work. Anything that they put in terms of expectations, those are the internal type of things.”
On what changed to allow the Browns defense to make significant improvements during the second half of last season:
“If you go way back to 2020, it was a new system so it was new for everybody. Then going into 2021, same system, but a lot of new faces. Year 3, it is the same system for a third year now with a lot of faces who have been in that system. I think the confidence comes from guys that have been in the system and have played meaningful snaps in that system. I think the coaches work really well together. I think (defensive coordinator) Joe (Woods) and his staff have done an outstanding job so I think that is where that confidence comes from.”
On the significance of younger Browns players being able to internally motivate themselves:
“You mentioned Greg, corners better be confident because that is a tough job when you are out on an island so often. I think confidence – you have heard it said – comes from demonstrated ability. I think so much of it is our guys getting on their grass, getting in games, doing it, making a mistake and correcting that mistake. I think that is where it comes from.”
On if it was important for the Browns to receive closure with former Browns and Panthers QB Baker Mayfield and Mayfield potentially starting against the Browns in Week 1:
“I think (Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager) Andrew (Berry) and Carolina worked really hard on that over the course of weeks. Like I mentioned to you guys, that was a unique situation. I wish him well. I think he is in a really good spot. We will see. I am not going to speak for (Panthers Head) Coach (Matt) Rhule and who plays for them. We will have time to talk about those type of things.”
On what Brissett has shown for the Browns to be confident in his ability if needed to start at QB:
“Jacoby, evaluating him before we brought him in here, I think everybody saw a decision-maker, a big athlete and a person who could make all the throws. I think that was exciting. Then just being around him and being in the meeting rooms with him, I think his ability to lead and his ability to understand defenses, I have been very impressed.”
On how difficult it is for Brissett with the uncertainty of whether he will start or not to open the season, along with the number of reps he is currently receiving:
“That is the life of a backup quarterback. (Offensive coordinator) Alex Van Pelt has a unique insight into backup quarterbacks and how you prepare. That is kind of how you operate. You have to be ready to go.”
On how his approach and expectations have changed from Year 1 to entering Year 3:
“We have all tried to learn throughout these years, adjust and apply some of those learning. Certainly as we get started, how we start practice and ramping up, I think those are types of things that have been helpful. I think just having the staff together – guys who can challenge each other, push each other and solve problems just from knowing each other for three years.”
On the challenges of having four QBs while keeping everyone on the same page and preparing for the 2022 season:
“That is all part of it. Each position, you can go down the line and say you have some established players, guys that have done it and you have new players, and that is our job as coaches to get everybody ready to play. Everybody is going to learn and get ready at their own pace, but with that quarterback room, a lot of long meetings, a lot of work out here on the grass and really find ways to reach each guy. Now is the time where we can do more in-depth meetings and we can do more things on the practice field, but really for us, it is about trying to get all of those guys ready.”
On how much the Browns have to adjust offensive gameplans if Brissett is needed to start the season, given Watson’s unique skillset:
“For us as coaches, you try to build a scheme – offense, defense and special teams – around the players who are available to you, build the offense around your strengths and minimize your weaknesses and those type of things. When it comes to Jacoby, when he is in there, there are certain things that we think he does really, really well and you try to maximize that. Deshaun, likewise. Josh Dobbs does some things really well. That is our job as coaches to identify those things first and then build the schemes around them.”
On if it fair to say that Dobbs is competing with Rosen for the third-string QB position, understanding training camp is about competition at all positions:
“I think we will let that play out. Josh Rosen just got here so he is learning. Josh Dobbs has done an outstanding job throughout the spring. He had a limited number of reps, but we are evaluating everything. We are evaluating individual periods. We are evaluating how they are in the meeting room. Really pleased with where Josh Dobbs is and then have to see Josh Rosen and the strides he can take over the next couple of weeks. I certainly think Josh Dobbs has a leg up.”
On if he was at Rosen’s workout for the Browns last week:
“Yes.”
On what he likes about Rosen:
“A skilled football player. Has been in a bunch of different systems so knows a lot of football. Really feel like we have a young player, and we will see what Josh does over a couple of weeks and what he can handle.”
On if there is a need to bring in another WR, given Bell’s injury:
“No, I think we will be OK.”
On if his personal time away from football is affected by the uncertainty surrounding Watson’s availability:
“No. We had a really, really good spring, Scott (Petrak). I am appreciative of the work that the guys put in. Deshaun and that quarterback room, those guys have worked really hard. I am confident in that work and then I am confident that we will hit the ground running here. We still have a lot of work to do, but I like where we left off.”
On if he wakes up every morning and checks to see if there is an update on Watson’s potential suspension:
“No. I check the weather (laughter).”
On how the difference of each QB may affect the Browns’ ability to establish the identity of the team:
“That is a good question. I think you have to spend a good portion of training camp installing everything – install your offense, install your defense and install special teams. When you get to like that third week – say the Chicago week – that is when you may start to streamline into things that you see yourself doing going into the season. Now, you may not show any of that in the game, but around that time maybe as you are out here at practice, you are starting to streamline into what you think you will do best.”
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